Fuel

New-Vehicle MPG Drops in April

The average fuel economy for new vehicles sold in April fell 0.1 mpg to 25.2 mpg from March levels, reports the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

This decline likely reflects the increased market share of pickup trucks and SUVs. Fuel economy is down 0.6 mpg from the peak reached in August of 2014, but still up 5.1 mpg since October of 2007, according to UMTRI researchers Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle.

The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index — an index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. driver — was 0.81 in February 2016, which is 0.03 lower than the value for January.

This value indicates the average new-vehicle driver produced 19% lower emissions in February than in October of 2007, but 3% higher emissions than the record low reached in both August of 2014 and August of 2015.

This is the first time the value fluctuated this year; the value had previoulsy remained unchanged since January, when it increased 0.2 mpg from December of 2015.

The company has now raised more than $88 million in funding from firms such as Invus Opportunities, Conversion Capital, Enterprise Holdings Ventures, Madrona Venture Group, Maveron, Perot Jain LP, Total Ventures and Vulcan Capital.

A recent bill proposed by California State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) lays out an even more aggressive plan for emissions reduction in the state and puts the transportation sector squarely in its crosshairs.